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✦ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓 – 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 ✦

— Liam’s POV —

I knew she was up to something the moment she started acting too innocent.

She was never innocent.

And the second her eyes flicked toward the door, I sighed internally.

She was going to run.

Cute.

She barely made it three steps before I caught her, one arm looping around her waist as I lifted her clean off the ground.

“Liam!” she shrieked, kicking wildly. “PUT ME DOWN!”

I didn’t.

Instead, I carried her across the room and sat her on the tallest table, making sure her feet dangled uselessly above the floor.

She blinked. Looked down. Blinked again.

I smirked. Yeah, good luck jumping from there, princess.

She whipped her head toward me, eyes blazing. “ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”

“Very.” I placed my hands on either side of her, effectively caging her in. “Where exactly were you planning to go?”

She huffed, crossing her arms. “Anywhere that doesn’t have you in it.”

I chuckled. “Not happening.”

She scowled and shifted slightly—probably thinking of jumping down.

But when she peeked over the edge and realized how high it actually was, her face fell.

I tilted my head. “What’s wrong? You looked so confident a second ago.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You planned this, didn’t you?”

I smirked, reaching out to tap her nose. “Of course I did.”

She slapped my hand away, huffing.

Her legs swung uselessly in the air as she glared at me. “I hope one day someone locks you on a table.”

I grinned. “Darling, if you wanted me on top of something, you just had to ask.”

Her face burned.

“Y-YOU—”

I leaned in, voice dropping. “Me... what?”

She sucked in a sharp breath, eyes darting anywhere but at me.

For a moment, she went silent.

Then, she sighed dramatically and flopped back onto the table.

I raised a brow. “Giving up already?”

“No,” she grumbled. “Just thinking about how unfairly tall you are.”

I smirked. “That’s not a real complaint.”

“It is when I’m stuck on a freaking table and can’t get down.”

I stepped closer. “I could help you down.”

She perked up. “Really?”

I leaned in, voice laced with amusement. “If you ask nicely.”

She scowled. “I take it back. I’ll rot up here before I say ‘please’ to you.”

I chuckled, stepping back. “Suit yourself, princess. Enjoy your new throne.”

She groaned, dramatically falling onto her back again.

I waited.

And sure enough, thirty seconds later, she peeked at me with the biggest, most reluctant glare.

“…Fine,” she muttered. “Get me down.”

I tapped my ear. “What was that?”

Her fingers curled into fists. “Liam.”

“Yes, angel?”

“I swear to every god, if you don’t help me down—”

Before she could finish her threat, I grabbed her waist and lifted her off effortlessly.

She gasped, hands gripping onto my shoulders as I set her down gently on the floor.

Her fingers lingered for a second.

And I didn’t move.

The air between us shifted.

Her breath caught. My grip tightened.

For a second, just a second, I wondered… what if she stopped fighting me?

But then, she shoved me away.

I let her go, smirking. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

She huffed, smoothing her clothes. “I hate you.”

“Sure, princess.” I winked. “Keep telling yourself that.”

And the best part?

She didn’t deny it this time.

🔥 To Be Continued...🔥

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